"There's not a lot I can say right now, but we're going to try to work through it, and see what happens over the next few days," he said.

"It has to be exposed and bled out, and it has to be stopped."

He said fire departments from nearby towns are helping out for the time being, according to VOCM.

In 2010, Seymour was suspended and dismissed from the brigade for overstepping her bounds, after she tried to secure funding to attend a training course. She has also discussed the fire department in her role as town councillor, according to The Compass.

A study conducted by a former chief of the Spaniard's Bay Fire Department found no evidence of gender bias in her dismissal, but did conclude suspending her from the department was unjust. In March 2011, Seymour was reinstated.

According to The Compass, Seymour made two motions during a town council meeting last November calling for the removal or suspension of fire chief Victor Hiscock.

The move was defeated 4-3 after the mayor voted in favour of the fire chief. Another motion to reevaluate and restructure the council was also defeated.

Seymour said after that council meeting, her treatment at the fire department got worse.

While out walking, she was hit by a coffee cup thrown from a passing vehicle, according to CBC News. She also received a copy of a conversation in which five of the firefighters' wives called her a "slimy bitch," and discussed hiring a hitman.